The appointed festivals outlined by God for the Israelites included a certain day of atonement as commanded by God. Do you, like me, wonder why God gave all these days with specific ways to celebrate them as it seems a bit excessive? However, when we look at church calendars today, we will soon realize that there are might be even more days fill with all kinds of activities meant to bring focus to God and repentance for sins in Jesus Name. So, we must not get bogged down in all the details that God commanded the Israelites to do; but instead take time to evaluate all the activities on any given church calendar to ask ourselves as church leaders:
Why do we do what we do?
What is the purpose of each gathering—from large group to small groups?
Does everything we do helpful to bring others to salvation in Jesus and bring absolute glory to God?
What is the motivation of our hearts?
Do we ask God to bless our plans or ask God for the plan? Do we ask God want He wants?
Do we pause to listen for His leading to fulfill His will as a “sacred assembly” in His Name?
Are we truly a “pleasing aroma” in our daily activity of giving ourselves to God as an offering?
In this act of obedience do we seek His agenda and follow His perfect and pleasing will for us? (Romans 12:1-2)
Our hearts must be right with God before doing anything for God. God sees our hearts and knows our minds. He sees the motivation behind everything we do because He knows who we are. Do we?
Numbers 29
The Festival of Trumpets
“‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 3 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 4 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.
The Day of Atonement
7 “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
The Festival of Tabernacles
12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. 13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
17 “‘On the second day offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 18 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 21 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
35 “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work. 36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 37 With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
39 “‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’”
40 Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
God commanded the Israelites to remember him. To do this, he assigned daily, weekly, and monthly offerings, as well as five annual events: Passover, the Festival of Weeks, the Festival of Trumpets, the Festival of Tabernacles, and the Day of Atonement. God wants his people to be thankful to him. We can honor him by giving regular offerings of all we are as well as all He has so graciously given to us to manage. This reminds us to keep God as the first priority in our lives.
The Priority of our Holy Relationship with God is Reflected in our daily Response to God!
May our first thought in the morning be the love of God. May the first thing that flows from our hearts and over our lips be grateful praise. When we focus on God and count our blessings before falling asleep at night; it is more likely we will wake up to God’s calling, “Come be with Me.” Be still before God doing anything of significance. Jesus demonstrated this “how to” regularly.
It takes time and effort to grow in our relationship with God but worth every minute we spend into building this holy and healthy relationship. We must remember that our relationship begins and continues with repenting in Jesus Name. It is Jesus who removed our sins and tore down all barriers between God and humanity. Jesus is the Way to God. There is no other way. That is why God wants to remember the sacrifice of His Son who saved us and brought us into relationship with Him. Never forget all that Jesus willingly did to save us! Always remember and live redeemed!
In what ways do we make God our daily priority? Think about the joy we have received from our growing friendship with the Lord. We must pause to surrender and decide how our daily worship needs to change to encourage a deeper and more joyful relationship with Him. I know from personal experience that this “work” is monumental, beneficial and foundation to real love and true faith in our Lord who loved us so much He died in our place to have this relationship with us!
Lord,
I offer my life to you as an offering. Cleanse my heart. Remove all that is impure. Renew my mind. Remove all that is unholy thinking. Refresh my soul with your new mercies fresh each morning. Restore the joy of your salvation at work within me. May Your Holy Spirit guide me all day long and into the night.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 